Mycoplasma in Beef Cattle in Ontario

Abstract

Mycoplasma disease complex or Chronic Pneumonia Polyarthritis Syndrome (CPPS) has become widespread in North American feedyards. CPPS presents as a progressive, non-responsive pneumonia and/or an acute onset non-responsive tenosynovitis. In Ontario many producers, as a result of CPPS, now expect a 2-3% death loss (up from 1 %) in high risk cattle. Aggressive and varied feedyard vaccination and treatment strategies have not prevented the increase in health costs. That other management factors may be more important is evident because a subgroup of producers can start high risk cattle and consistently experience lower than average losses and health costs. The identifiable factors associated with improved animal health are described. Producers experiencing unacceptable animal health costs who are unable or unwilling to make the necessary management adjustments must either purchase lower risk animals or absorb the higher cost associated with CPPS.